Worcester manager to take doc-ordered rest

Saturday

Nov 16, 2013 at 8:34 PM

By Nick Kotsopoulos, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — City Manager Michael V. O'Brien will be taking some time away from his City Hall office later this month to give his voice a doctor-ordered rest, but it won't be taking him away all together from his job as the city's chief executive.

Mr. O'Brien has advised Mayor Joseph M. Petty and the City Council that his physician wants him to take time out to rest his vocal cords, which he had surgery on in 2010.

Because of the pace of his job and the long hours that he often works, the manager said he has been unable to follow his doctors' directions on how to best care for his vocal cords so they can properly heal.

As a result, on doctor's orders, Mr. O'Brien said he will not be in his City Hall office over a 10-day period, beginning Thursday through Dec. 1, to facilitate his continued healing regimen.

During that time, he said, he intends to have acting Assistant City Manager Kathleen G. Johnson undertake the duties of city manager.

"At the direction of my physician, I must dedicate time late next week and the week of Thanksgiving to complete vocal rest, to continue my efforts to properly heal my vocal cords," Mr. O'Brien wrote to the mayor and city councilors.

"The pace I run at, the long hours and the need to communicate 24/7 resulted in my not following my specialist's and physician's direction on how to best care for the long term of this condition — on a daily basis," he added. "I have delayed and timed this required vocal rest with the Thanksgiving holiday so to minimize the time away from my job and from a key component for performance of my role — communicating via my voice.

Mr. O'Brien had outpatient surgery on his vocal cords in October 2010 to remove a cyst. Before that surgery, there were times when he often sounded hoarse when he spoke, even coming close to losing his voice.

The manager is expected to attend Tuesday night's City Council meeting. He will miss the meeting the following week and will return for the Dec. 3 meeting.

While he won't be in his office, Mr. O'Brien said he will continue to be available via written communication methods during that period.

"I will be fully briefed and connected via email — as all would expect from my deeds and actions throughout my tenure," Mr. O'Brien wrote.